Photographic-print holder.



U N in* r. if STATES Parenti* OFFICE.

`JOHN' (4; BAKER, OF PTTLADELPUA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PHoTocRAPl-nc-PRINT HOLDER.

'sPEcIFIcAToN forming peet of Letters Patent No. 661.840, dated November 13, 1900.

Application filed lecember 23. 1899. Serial No. 741,395. i (Model.)

To all whom it may conn/ern.:

lle it known that l, JOHN G. BAKnn, a eiti-` '/.eu ofthe United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a certain lm provement in Photographic-Print llolders, otwhieh the follownig is a specification.

My invention consists oi a certain improve` ment in the photographic-print holder for which I have obtained Letters Patent No. (327,062), dated .lune 13, 189i), the objects of my present in vention heilig to simplify the construction of the device and to provide within a given size of'hloek a greater area of chamber from which-the air can be exhausted and a closer disposition of the supportingsurfaces for the print, so as to insure the firm retention of the print upon the surface of the block without iudenting or otherwise injuring said print. These objects I att-ain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa plan view of a photographicprint holder or retainer constructed in accordancev with. my present invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the same on the4 line o. a, Fig. l. Fig. is a transverse section on the line b b, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of print-retainer embodying my invention, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line dd, Fig. 4.

The device forming the subject of my before-mentioned patentconsists of a block having distributed throughout its area a series of openings which are connected by longitudinal a nd transverse channels or passages with each other and with a central opening in the lower portion of the block, this latter' opening being in connnunication with an exhaustldpe, whereby a partial vacuum can be produced iu each of the openings extending to the face of the block.

My present invention aimsto simplify the construction of the device and to provide a greater area ot` vacuum-chamber and a closer disposition of the supporting-surfaces for the print, whereby the latter can be held firmly in contact with the face of the -block without risk of indeuting the same, as when any portion of the print was unsupportedthroughout a considerable area.

With these objects in View my invention consists iu forming in the Lipper' face of the block a serios ol intersecting` grooves extending throughout thel greater portion ot the area ol' the block and having disposed throughout its extent a series of projecting supporting posts or blocks on which the print can rest.

ln that. form of the [wint-holder shown in Fig. l tho face of the block l has formed in it a .series of intersecting longitudinal and transverse kerfs or grooves 2, which may be formed hy means of a circular saw or other rotating cutter or in `any other convenient wav, so as to produce between the grooves the projecting studs or posts 3 and at the same time form inclined channels 4, which extend from the edges ol the recess or chamber to the upper surface of the block, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

'lhe depression or chamber in the top ot' the block communicates through one or morevertical openings 5 with a horizontal opening G, fol-,med in the lower portion of the block and receiving the exhaust-pipe 7, so that when the air is exhausted through this pipe after de-` positing a print upon the surface of the block 1 a partial vacuum will be formed in the chamber-,which extends throughout almost the cnt-ire area of the print, and the firm retention of the latter upon the face of the block will be thereby insured, while neither of the grooves is of sufficient width to deprive the print of support throughout such area as would cause indentug of the print by the pressure of air upon it.

Horizontal slipping of the print on the face of the block may be further guarded against by providing said face with a coating of thin rubber, rubber cement, or other elastic material, as in the patented device.

In that form ot holder shown 1n Figs. t and 5 the depression or chamber in the face ot' the block is formed by a series of intersecting or merging annular grooves 2 instead ot' by intersecting longitudinal and transverse grooves crossing eachother, as shown in Fig. l, the supporting studs-or posts 3 in this ease being circular instead of rectangular and the annular recesses being formed by means of a hollow auger or other tool available for the purpose.

IOC

Halving thus described my invention, AI claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. A photographic-print holder consisting of-.a block of rigid material having in the face of the sameintersecting grooves extending upwardly projecting supporting posts or studs, the block 4also having inclined chan- Witnesses:

throughout the greater portion of the area of the vblock andforming throughontits extent nels extending from theedges of said grooves to the 'face of the block, an air-exhausting pipe and passages whereby said pipe is placed ,in communication with said chamber or de.

pression in the face of the block, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed name to 'this specification fn -the two subscribing/witnesses. f K- JOHN G. BAKER.

presence of F. E. BECHTO'LD, J os. H.' KLEIN. 

